Kochi, Wednesday 04 July 2010: The Kerala Goods Transporters Federation has threatened to go ahead with the indefinite strike called from Friday if the government does not redress their grievances.

Addressing media persons here, federation president N.A. Muhammed Kutty said that lorry owners in the State could not raise fares, despite increase in operational costs and workers’ wages. He alleged that agents and brokers in many northern districts of the State had formed a cartel, imposing ‘turn system’ on goods transporters.

The agents demand a share of the transporting charge. Though customers are thus forced to pay more for the produce, farmers, goods manufactures, traders and lorry owners do not benefit.

The State government had also begun to levy higher tax on lorries, he said. The federation also demanded that PAN card be made mandatory for all owners, since unscrupulous owners indulge in malpractices, thus affecting business.